According to Techgenix website. Docker containers, which were already taking the market by storm, received a big boost in September when the company announced a commercial partnership with Microsoft. The deal, which extends the Docker engine to Windows Server, is expected to double the size of the already fast-growing container market.

Understanding containers

If you’re reading this, chances are you already understand what Docker containers are. If so, feel free to skip ahead to see what this means for you and how to run the containers in Windows. But for Docker newbies, here’s some background information.

Docker launched just three years ago in 2013, but it has already become immensely popular. One of the reasons containers got such widespread support so immediately was because a company is able to put many more applications into a physical server with containers rather than with virtual machines (VMs).

Essentially, this is because VMs use much more system resources, such as RAM and CPU cycles. While a container essentially only needs a compatible operating system and supporting programs, libraries, and resources, a VM needs much more.

Virtual machines must virtually replicate the system hardware to run. But because containers use shared operating systems instead of virtualizing hardware, you can put many more applications on one server using containers.

Not only this, but containers also create an operating system that is consistent among machines and can be used for development, testing, and deployment.

Of course, this isn’t to say that they are better than virtual machines. They are simply for different purposes. When using Docker, every container has to use the same operating system and kernel. Simplified, containers are for you if you need multiple copies of the same application.

There are a few reasons why Docker skyrocketed quickly and has steadily remained one of the top container companies. Docker changed the way containers were deployed, making it safer and easier.

With Docker, it’s possible to create different environments like that of a live server for development purposes and allow those on different computers to work on the same project, without needing to change the settings or spend hours setting up the environment yourself.

Docker notes that “On average, Docker users ship 7X more software after deploying Docker in their environment.” Also, with Docker, it’s easy to “identify issues, isolate the problem container, quickly roll back to make the necessary changes, and then push the updated container into production. Isolation between containers makes these changes less disruptive than in traditional software models.”

Docker containers in Windows Server 2016

Now that you’ve got a good grasp of what Docker containers are (or you already knew), let’s see what that means for Windows users.

Before this, Docker containers were exclusive only to Linux. With this new partnership, though, they will be functional on the upcoming Windows servers. And what could be better than being able to run Docker containers on your Windows computer? Running it for free!

After two years of joint engineering, this commercial partnership entails a few specific things. First, the Commercially Supported Docker Engine, or “CS Docker Engine,” will be available to Windows Server 2016 customers for no additional cost.

Additionally, Docker and Microsoft will jointly assist in providing more security by promoting Docker Datacenter. This will help “IT Pros to secure the Windows Server software supply chain and manage containerized Windows Server workloads, whether on-prem, in the cloud, or hybrid,” Docker says.

The partnership also includes the integration of Visual Studio Tools for Docker and Docker for Windows. This gives developers complete desktop development environments for building Dockerized Windows apps.

Microsoft has also contributed Windows Server container-base images and apps to Docker Hub to jumpstart app development, according to Docker’s site. And, for IT pros, Docker Datacenter has made it possible to manage Windows Server environments in addition to the Linux environments it already manages.

The Docker platform “represents a single set of tools, APIs and image formats for managing both Linux and Windows apps.” As Docker’s Michael Friis puts it, “As Linux and Windows apps and servers are dockerized, developers and IT-pros can bridge the operating system divide with shared Docker terminology and interfaces for managing and evolving complex microservices deployments both on-prem and in the cloud.”How to use the new Docker containers on Windows

There are a few things to understand about how to run the containers on Windows. The command “docker run” is available natively on Docker for Windows, and the terminology hasn’t changed much between the operating systems. Also, like different security profiles can be run on Linux, this is also true of Windows.

There are two isolation modes available, according to Docker’s website:

“Windows Server Containers use the same shared-kernel process-isolation paradigm known from Linux. Since containers run as normal (but isolated) processes, startup is fast and resource overhead is minimal.”

“With Hyper-V isolation, container processes run inside a very minimal hypervisor created during container start. This yields potentially better isolation at the cost of slower startup and some resource overhead.”

So, a Windows container image can be run using either of these isolation modes, as long as the underlying host supports the requested isolation mode. Additionally, both of these hosts are able to be run at the same time, and the Docker control API is the same for both modes.

Generally, developers won’t have to worry about this and can simply use the typical “docker run” command, not needing the extra “docker run –isolation=hyperv microsoft/nanoserver”. Isolation mode is useful for IT pros, though, to decide how to deploy containerized apps in production.

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According to ittutorials website, If you are setting up Windows Server 2016 as a domain controller or as any other production server function in your network it is recommended that you set it up with a static IP address. This is a quick how to guide on how to do that.

Note: you need an administrator account on the server to set your Windows 2016 server with a static IP address

Login to your Windows 2016 server, and click on the Start button, and then click on the Control Panel:

Then click on View network status and tasks under the Network and Internet applet:

Then click on Change adapter settings on the left menu:

then right-click on your network connection, and select Properties:

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click on Properties:

Enter the IP address you want to assigned to this server, the Network Mask, Default Gateway, and the DNS IP address:

Click OK and then reboot the server.

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Enter your machine/server IP address (or a hostname) into the Host name box.

Enter your Windows account name to the User name box. It might have to be entered in the format [email protected], if running on a domain.

For a public key authentication:

Press the Advanced button to open Advanced site settings dialog and go to SSH > Authentication page.

In Private key file box select your private key file.

Submit Advanced site settings dialog with the OK button.

For a password authentication:

Enter your Windows account password to the Password box.

If you Windows account does not have a password, you cannot authenticate with the password authentication (i.e. with an empty password), you need to use the public key authentication.

Save your site settings using the Save button.

Login using Login button.

Verify the host key by comparing fingerprint with the one collected before (see above).

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Windows Server 2012 Essentials does not come with Microsoft Exchange Server as its predecessor Small Business Server 2011 did. However, many small businesses still use a copier or multifunction device that has the ability to scan to email. Some units also allow a fax to email forwarding service. Unfortunately, many of these devices rely on some form of internal SMTP service to enable them to relay emails to recipients.

Fortunately, you can enable a SMTP service that is built into the core operating system for Windows Server 2012. Here how to do this.

Install the SMTP Service

Launch the Server Manager. From the Search charm, type in Server Manager to find it.

From the Dashboard, Add Roles and Features. The Add Roles and Features Wizard will begin. Click Next on the first screen.

Select Role-based or feature-based installation.

Select the Essentials Server (which should be highlighted by default).

Click Next to bypass the Roles selections.

Scroll down the list and tick the SMTP Server feature.

A new window will pop up to inform you that some other services will also be installed. Click Add Features to confirm and continue. Click Next to continue past the features selection screen.

Click Install to complete the Installation.

Click Close when the installation has completed.

Configure the SMTP Service

From the Search charm, type IIS. Hover your mouse over one of the selections, and run the Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 Manager.

Click Yes to the UAC Prompt.

Expand to SMTP Virtual Server #1, right click and select Properties.

General Tab: Set the IP Address to the server’s IP address.

Note: You can also enable logging is required.

Access Tab: Set the IP for the internal devices in the connection button.

Add the same IP to the Relay list.

Delivery Tab: Set an external domain – you can use the free customised domain from Microsoft, and you can also optionally add a Smart host, if required. Tick the Attempt direct delivery box, if you want the server to attempt to deliver the email directly first before trying the Smart host.

From the Search charm, type Firewall to locate and run the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security console.

Add a new Inbound Rule. (Right Click on Inbound Rule, and select New Rule)

Select Port.

Type in 25 as the local port.

Click Next (Allow the Connection).

Uncheck Public. (Prevents external access to the server)

Give the rule a name, and click Finish to create the rule.

You should now see a new rule enabled in the firewall management console.

Restart the SMTP Service and set the service for Automatic Start. Open up the Services Management Console. Double Click on the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol service. Stop and then Start the service. Set the Startup type to Automatic.

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